So, not gonna lie, forgot this story kinda existed ^-^; My bad! Anywhere, here you go!
It took everything Jack had to keep his legs from shaking as he stepped up to the stage. Even though Ginta had been eager to fight her, Jack stepped up instead, not wanting to fight the massive hulk that was supposedly this girl's dad. Truth be told he was already terrified to fight her, but he couldn't bear the idea to face him.
The more Jack reflected on this, the more he thought about the events that lead up to him being there. He was just a simple farm boy from the small island of Pazurika. Though for the longest time the farm he and his mother owned and tended to was being terrorized by the wolf-thugs called the Rogelu. That came to an end however when Ginta, the guy he learned was from another world, and the strange talking ÄRM Babbo showed up to help put a stop to them. Once his farm was safe he left with Ginta and Babbo to help Ginta find a way home. Pretty soon their journey took a turn when the Chess Pieces returned and well…here he was now…on this stage…with the fate of the entire world of MÄR on the line.
Jack took a few deep breaths to calm himself, hoping his opponent Pano or the crowd didn't notice his shaking. He clenched his fists as Pozun raised his hand in the air.
"The second match between Jack from Team MÄR and Chess Piece Pano—BEGIN!" he said, throwing his hand down.
Pano gave Jack an inquisitive look then chuckled.
"You seem awfully weak," she said. "That handsome friend of yours put out some real magic energy but you…"
Suddenly most of Jack's fear was replaced with anger and annoyance.
"Why you…I'll show you some energy!"
Focusing on his ÄRM, Jack invoked his Great Earth Shovel, fully intending on taking the offensive…if the shovel didn't spear him in the foot when it appeared. Acting on instinct he grabbed the injured foot and shrieked and pain, hopping on his good foot with his shovel on the ground.
"Get a grip, Jack!" he heard Ginta yell from behind him. "Here she comes!"
Jack looked only just in time for Pano to slam her huge metal ball right into his gut, knocking the wind out of him.
"Weapon ÄRM—Ball Hammer!" Pano grinned, as she continued to try to jab the huge sphere at Jack.
Jack did his best to block each one with his Battle Shovel but she proved far better as she landed quite the number of blows on him. Jack gritted his teeth and fought through the pain, doing everything he can to prevent her from striking a devastating blow.
"Gotta say, you deflect better than I expected," Pano smirked. "But let's see how you do against this!"
Pano jumped back just as the steel ball detached from the staff and sped through the air right towards him. Jack sucked in a breath and jumped out of the way. He looked at Pano, wanting to try and seize a chance of going on the offensive when he suddenly fell forward at a strong blow to the back of his head that nearly knocked him out instantly. He thought he could hear Ginta shout his name as he struggled to stay conscious and on his feet as Pano laughed.
"This ball hammer can detach and reattach as well as always hone in on a moving target," she said, a sly smirk on her face. "So, are you ready to give up?"
Jack huffed as he glared at Pano, his fists clenched. He fought against the black spots in his vision when he heard Alviss sigh.
"He should give up," Alviss said. "He's outmatched. If he keeps fighting, chances are he'll die."
"DON'T SAY THAT!" Ginta shouted. "Jack was in the Gate of Training too and he worked just as hard as I did to get stronger. If you say something like that again I'll pummel you."
Jack took a few deep breaths to help calm himself as he tried to formulate a plan. Ginta believed in him so he couldn't let his friend down. But hearing about the Gate of Training sparked an idea, one that just might work…
"This kid's nothing compared to the guy before," Jack heard a man said while he gripped his Battle Shovel tighter as the pieces of his plan started to come together.
"Yeah, he just seems really weak in comparison," another said.
"Oh just shut up and watch," Dorothy sighed. "He's gonna show you what's he's really capable of."
Jack reached into his pocket and sure enough, he still had some seeds that thankfully didn't fall out. Good. They were the core of his entire plan. As he let the seeds fall to the ground next to him, he could see Pano look at him in confusion. He had to act fast before she could retaliate…
"GROW—EARTH BEANS!" Jack shouted.
Slamming his Battle Shovel into the ground right on top of the beans he poured his magical power into them and in mere moments the beans sprouted and the vines grew to massive proportions. The vines shot out and before Pano could move or run, ensnarled her as she cried out in shock in surprise.
"W-What the hell is this?" she cried out as the sprouts lifted her off of the ground.
"Can't do much now can you?" Jack snickered as he walked over to her.
"Yeah, you go Jack!" Ginta cheered. "Show 'em what happens when people take you lightly!"
"Ha, looks like I've got you now," Jack said.
Pano gasped in horror as she shouted, "I'm warning you, don't you lay a finger on me you pervert!"
Jack stumbled back at the accusation.
"P-p-pervert? T-That's not—"
Immense pain prevented Jack from finishing.
The metal ball from Pano's Ball Hammer fell to the ground in front of Jack as he fell back, hands covering his groin as he laid there in mewling in pain.
"Jack from Team MÄR is down," Pozun announced as the bean sprouts started to wither away, freeing Pano. "The winner is Pano of the Chess Pieces!"
Jack managed to stumble his way off the stage but collapsed on the ground again.
"Is an attack like that really effective Nanashi?" Snow asked, looking to the older dirty blond.
"Oh yes, it can be quite effective," he mumbled, casting a sympathetic look towards Jack.
"Well, so it's one to one," Ed murmured. "The only one left to fight is Master Ginta…"
"Yeah, against that hulk of a guy," Sora muttered.
"Indeed. Remember though, Ginta is your captain," Pozun said. "His loss means a loss for all of you."
As if inspired by that comment, Ginta held his head high as he walked up onto the stage and stared down Garon, puffing his chest out slightly.
"Now then, the deciding and final match, fighting for the Chess Pieces—Garon!" Pozun said. "And for the Cross Guard—Ginta!"
"HEY! It's 'MÄR' not Cross Guard!" Ginta shouted at the purple dwarf.
Taking a deep breath Ginta turned back to Garon.
"Okay then, let's get real," he smirked.
"Let the first battle and final match commence!" Pozun announced.
Yeah, this is a short chapter. At first I was planning on keeping Jack and Ginta's fight in the same chapter but decided to separate the chapters, each one featuring a fight and go from there. Anyway, until next time!
